A landscape design can provide outdoor living, transform the look of your yard, and increase the value of your home. There are many solutions to achieve your desired garden and create a destination in your landscape design.
Landscape design and consultation services by an award winning Bay Friendly Qualified Landscape Design Professional focused on water-wise gardens, edible gardens, small spaces, family friendly spaces, and sustainable practices.Expert on Low Water Lawn Conversion landscapes. Whether starting from scratch or working with what you already have, your garden can be an outdoor destination you enjoy.
What do you need in your landscape? I promise to listen to your goals and work with them to implement your vision into your beautiful landscape plan. You can also sheet mulch over your exisitng lawn for a fertile soil in 6 months to plant low water and low maintenance plants with drip irrigation. You can even plant at the same time and install your drip irrigation.
Landscape design and consultation services by an award winning Bay Friendly Qualified Landscape Design Professional focused on water-wise gardens, edible gardens, small spaces, family friendly spaces, and sustainable practices.Expert on Low Water Lawn Conversion landscapes. Whether starting from scratch or working with what you already have, your garden can be an outdoor destination you enjoy.
What do you need in your landscape? I promise to listen to your goals and work with them to implement your vision into your beautiful landscape plan. You can also sheet mulch over your exisitng lawn for a fertile soil in 6 months to plant low water and low maintenance plants with drip irrigation. You can even plant at the same time and install your drip irrigation.
Services
I have been giving garden and planning advice for decades and made a life change to do it professionally. I have degrees in Landscape Architecture and Visual Arts and I am a Bay Friendly Quailified Designer. I received Best in Houzz 2013-2020 from Houzz.com and I am an award recipient on a 4 member team project at SF Flower and Garden Show 2011, winning a Gold Medal and the CLCA awards.
Landscape design and consulting services are primarily available in the greater San Jose area of California. Every project is unique and there are different design services to address the correct fit for your project. This service is for immediate assistance for problem solving landscape dilemmas. Typically this is an appointment to review what is going on in the landscape now and what can or should be changed to improve the landscape.
It looks like days of triple-digit heat is descending on California this summer, so it's time to act now to protect your unsuspecting plants, which are just emerging from the relatively mild temperatures of spring. Outdoor container plants are especially vulnerable, since they can dry out so quickly, but at least you can move a potted plant to a shadier area.
If you are short on space and still want to grow your own fruit and don't want to settle for just one type, you may consider a 'Fruit Salad Tree.' Other varieties come under the name 'Fruit Cocktail Tree' and 'Fruit Bowl Tree' etc. The 'Fruit Salad Tree' originated in Australia to economize the growing of fruit for small spaces by grafting multiple fruits on one tree.
California Poppies are vibrant in the garden. Most people are familiar with the glorious bright orange poppies often seen along our freeways and in local gardens. Yet they come in other colors besides the common orange. Their dazzling colors range from cream, yellow, orange, red, pink and purple. They are available by seed in many home stores and nurseries or online seed companies will have the most variety.
Reviews (19)
Erica W.
Nov 30, 2021
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Loved working with Kim to design our dream backyard. I previously tried YardZen and was extremely disappointed. My friend referred Kim and I'm so glad he did! Kim was extremely knowledgeable, helpful, punctual, and creative. We did a virtual appointment and in less than a few hours we had the backyard of our dreams with a play area, entertaining area, and gardening section. I would highly recommend Kim and we will definitely be using her services when we redesign the front yard.
Kristine M.
Oct 21, 2021
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I had Kim come out and help me design my front yard with drought tolerant plants. The project included pathways, a new front door courtyard, a new driveway and pavers. She was very patient and knowledge about both the appropriate plants and the construction process for the hardscaping and irrigation. She provided a full blueprint to provide to the Contractor, and a plant list/instructions on how to apply for the Santa Clara Country rebate for replacing lawns with drought tolerant plants. I would definitely recommend Kim/KL Design.
Jessica N.
Jun 19, 2021
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Exceptional knowledge, customer service and, in a time in the Bay Area when everyone is out for themselves, Kim displays selflessness and compassion beyond any expectations I had. I could not have been more impressed with our conversation and her extensive recommendations. Kim works from the heart with doing the right thing for you and the environment at the forefront of her approach. I am ever thankful for her advice and recommend her without hesitation to anyone looking for an honest, wise, and personable professional with which to work.
John M.
May 17, 2021
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Sean P.
May 13, 2021
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We couldn't be happier with Kim's design and guidance on our front and back yard makeovers. Her process is fast, interactive, and thorough. She listened carefully to our sometimes conflicting requests and came up with a plan and design that exceeded our expectations and even highest hopes. During the construction phase of our project, she responded to a few follow-up questions we had as we made a few additions to the design (we had discussed these as "optional" in our planning with Kim, and ended up putting all our optional items in after all!)
We asked for low-water,
We asked for low-water,
Elise T.
May 01, 2021
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Kim helped us redesign our front and backyards which had a lot of haphazard trees / plants. She managed to help us keep the existing plants we liked and refresh our yards with new plants / trees and some hardscape. We were impressed by Kim's deep knowledge of all plants and her efficiency with the entire process. Although she's booked far in advance, Kim is able to get the whole design done in one day and her rates are very reasonable. Thank you Kim!
Tigran K.
Apr 09, 2021
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Ian C.
Mar 14, 2021
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Kim was amazing. She came over for an on site discussion on the big picture and then later that day provided a Zoom session to do the detailed design work. Kim gives you a plan with all the details you need and was great at communicating. We are looking forward to the project execution now that we have a beautiful and detailed plan.
Emma R.
Feb 26, 2021
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Kim is an exceptional, knowledgeable, and creative designer. She cares about understanding the people and animals that will interact with a space and designing for function and utility, as well as beauty. She takes the time to educate her clients on plants, irrigation, and everything else that goes into a plan. I appreciate that she also shares creative opportunities for how to create charm, whimsy, and uniqueness to personalize a space and its ambiance.
Kim's calendar fills up in advance, so don't hesitate to book her!
Kim's calendar fills up in advance, so don't hesitate to book her!
Angela B.
Jul 24, 2020
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Kim was wonderful to consult and work with. She pointed out several spots for improvement in our initial consultation call and sent over useful links right after it, pointing us to directions where exactly we need professional advice. We would have loved to work with Kim but the schedules didn't work out this time. Look forward to the next opportunity!
Bob B.
May 08, 2020
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KL Designs delivers! It is now three year's later, and the trees she suggested are getting bigger and bearing a few fruit, as she said they would. A couple of plants have expired, but the remainder are thriving and and covering the wood chips quite a bit now. Maintenance has been minimal. I am still very very pleased. Absolutely fully deserving of five stars.
This is from two years ago:
The design she offered was easy for a contractors to understand. It is now a year later, and it looks absolutely beautiful. The flowers Kim selected are very resilient, they bloom for long times, and
This is from two years ago:
The design she offered was easy for a contractors to understand. It is now a year later, and it looks absolutely beautiful. The flowers Kim selected are very resilient, they bloom for long times, and
Jim K.
Jan 24, 2020
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It was my lucky day when I selected Kim from the Internet to help me design a water-wise front and backyard to replace my lawn.
Before our appointment she helped me with questions and ideas on how to kill the lawn in an environmentally friendly way, and possible rebate programs from my water provider.
We spent the day together going over what I liked, and it was by far the most educational day I ever had, when it comes to gardening. She's extremely knowledgeable on plants, and identified everything in my yard even though it's winter and there's no leaves on most. She pointed out
Before our appointment she helped me with questions and ideas on how to kill the lawn in an environmentally friendly way, and possible rebate programs from my water provider.
We spent the day together going over what I liked, and it was by far the most educational day I ever had, when it comes to gardening. She's extremely knowledgeable on plants, and identified everything in my yard even though it's winter and there's no leaves on most. She pointed out
Justin V.
Apr 17, 2019
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My wife's review got filtered for some reason. Here i'm posting on behalf of her. Our project was done in 2017 summer time and the plants all look very good today!
Kim is truly amazing. She started our project with a great consultation and she heard our needs and preferences. Then she presented a beautiful and thoughtful plan. She responded to my questions after installation and after everything was done, she came out and did a walk through with me and let me know what I need to do to keep my yard live. She has deep knowledge about plants and their irrigation needs. She is very professional
Kim is truly amazing. She started our project with a great consultation and she heard our needs and preferences. Then she presented a beautiful and thoughtful plan. She responded to my questions after installation and after everything was done, she came out and did a walk through with me and let me know what I need to do to keep my yard live. She has deep knowledge about plants and their irrigation needs. She is very professional
Zade F.
Apr 08, 2019
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Paula P.
Dec 16, 2018
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Andrew L.
Dec 10, 2018
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We hired Kim and couldn't be more happy with the final product. She was incredibly knowledgeable on all the plants that we liked. Kim quickly understood our vision and gave us great advice on things that we didn't even think about. It felt like she genuinely wanted to help us out together a design that our family would enjoy now and into the future. I did a lot of research on landscape designers and many of them either didn't know their plants and/or they were going to charge a ridiculous amount of money for the designs. We are so happy with Kim's design and I trust you
Deborah H.
Jul 25, 2018
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Amazing!! This review is just for Kim's initial help, not for her services (yet :) ). I reached out to her and a few other landscape design firms for consultations and advice for privacy screen plants/general landscaping, and Kim replied within 24 hours with SO many great recommendations. Her response was thorough and lengthy, and she was upfront about her limited availability until later this year which I appreciated. I am super thankful and impressed by her expert and detailed advice on my query about good privacy trees and shrubs. She seems to really know her plants and I will definitely
Kris L.
Jan 15, 2018
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IMPRESSED!! I'm not even a client in her area and Kim directed me to look at other landscaping designers in my area.
Even for a non paying client, Kim spent so much time responding to my questions and even sent me a detailed list of plants with descriptions and pictures that I can consider myself. Her clients in the South Bay are very lucky to have her knowledge and expertise!
Even for a non paying client, Kim spent so much time responding to my questions and even sent me a detailed list of plants with descriptions and pictures that I can consider myself. Her clients in the South Bay are very lucky to have her knowledge and expertise!
Kat P.
Jun 10, 2015
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I LOVE my New Front Yard!
When I made the decision to convert my front yard to California natives and drought-resistant plants I started researching to find someone who could help me design a beautiful new space that would give the impression of an English cottage garden. When I saw Kim Leichner's website and her portfolio, I had a feeling she would be a good person to help me realize this idea.
Kim was awesome to work with! She came over to the house and immediately started coming up with really nice ideas. She was so easy to work with and very patient. We sat down together and reviewed
When I made the decision to convert my front yard to California natives and drought-resistant plants I started researching to find someone who could help me design a beautiful new space that would give the impression of an English cottage garden. When I saw Kim Leichner's website and her portfolio, I had a feeling she would be a good person to help me realize this idea.
Kim was awesome to work with! She came over to the house and immediately started coming up with really nice ideas. She was so easy to work with and very patient. We sat down together and reviewed
